The Fall of the Western Roman Empire: Germanic Invasions

The Western Roman Empire followed a different evolution to the Byzantine Empire.

byzantine

The lands of Western Europe were occupied by peoples of Germanic origin.

germanic

The Germanic people came from Central Asia and settled for centuries near the borders of the Roman Empire.

nomadic

Germanic people mainly lived in villages and camps.

farming

Germanic people were organised into tribes, led by a tribal chief.

assembly

warriors

An increase in population and the need to seek pastures for cattle caused the Germanic people to move to Western Europe.

western

Some of the Germanic tribes that pushed the boundaries of the Roman Empire during the 3rd century took advantage of its weakness to settle there.

weaknessThese tribes settled in the territory of the Western Roman Empire through force or through pacts and treaties.

pactsSome held posts in the army and the Roman administration

armyTherefore, there were Germanic tribes that were quite Romanised, such as the visigoths and Ostrogoths.

Others germanic tribes were very hostile, such as the Huns and the vandals

Despite the Germanic invasions, the Western Roman Empire managed to stay in place, although in a very weakened form, until the German chieftain Odoacer deposed the last emperor of Rome, Romulus Augustus, in AD 476

476They were monarchies At first, kings were elected but over time the position became hereditary.

monarchiesKings were weak and had little power as they were in the hands of an increasingly powerful warrior aristocracy.

romanised